LE PROVOCATEUR: MUTLICULTURAL AFFAIRS ARTICLE #6

My name is Erin Marie Muschette and I am multiracial. Looking at me, it is hard to determine my ethnicity, which has proven to be both a blessing and a curse. It is obvious that I am neither fully white, nor fully black, and I am too light-skinned to only be mulatto, as such, people stare at me confused and curious. Nevertheless, the staring does not bother me because I enjoy being different. The fact that people are unable to determine my ethnicity is a blessing because it allows me to see people's true views about diversity. This is also a curse because people who do not know my background engage in prejudiced conversations around me without even realizing it affects me.

I am proud to be Black, White, Portuguese, Cape Verdean, Arawak Indian, Jamaican and French-Canadian. Although I am not of Irish decent, I have an Irish first name. My skin complexion is light tan, and I have hazel eyes. I am neither dark-skinned-which makes it not as easy to point me out-nor am I completely pale-resembling many of the students here on campus. For these reasons, it is easy for me to blend in on a predominately white campus such as Assumption. I simply fade into the background.

The fact that I am multiracial raises another issue: many people expect me to identify with a specific race. I do not speak Cape Verdean-Creole or Portuguese so it is often difficult to identify with that part of my identity. Yet, if I have white friends or date white men, then I am labeled as acting white or trying to be white. Conversely, if I have black friends or date black men, then I am labeled as acting black or trying to be black. I did not know it was possible to act out who I am. I thought I was just being myself. How am I supposed to choose to identify with only one part of who I am?

My family is extremely diverse and we see people for who they are, not based on their skin color. That is the kind of atmosphere I am accustomed to. This is partly the reason why my transition into college here at Assumption was harder than I expected. Back at home, an hour away in Lynn, Mass., your character, your compassion for others, and your work ethic are what defines you, but here at Assumption many people judge you based on your skin color without getting to know you as a person. This prevents people from building healthy relationships because they are unable to see beyond race and color lines. Lynn is a very diverse city. I would be lying if I said Lynn does not have problems of its own, but it is a completely different environment than Assumption. People are very accepting in Lynn, and unfortunately that is not the case here at Assumption. I have come to realize that before attending college, I was living in a bubble. I expected everywhere I went to be just as diverse as both my family and the city in which I grew up. I realize that in life we will meet people with whom we do not share values and beliefs, but more importantly, we should be willing to learn from such experiences.

Growing up with such a diverse background has given me a strong sense of cultural awareness, as well as sensitivity towards topics of race and race relations. I have learned that it is offensive to be ignorant, and we can only improve cultural understanding through open, honest conversations. A lot of people are skeptical to ask questions regarding race and race relations, but it is better to ask questions and gain accurate knowledge about different cultures than to make incorrect assumptions about people of diverse backgrounds.

I have Black, White, Hispanic and multiracial friends. I do not make friends based on race, so it does not matter to me what they look like or how they talk. I personally love hearing different accents. My best friend is Laotian, and by being around her I was able to experience her culture. I have asked her numerous questions about her culture and have even learned a few words in Lao, the official Laotian language. I am comfortable in my own skin and am perfectly fine with the people I associate with or choose to date. The race of the people with whom I choose to surround myself with should not be an issue to anyone but me. I enjoy people's company because of their personality and not because of their skin color.

In today's society, and here at Assumption, many people are not accepting of cultures different from their own. It could be that some people have old-fashioned parents or ideals, but that does not justify ignorant thoughts or actions. In the ALANA Network, we work to promote diversity. Diversity should bring people together, not separate them. We must embrace different cultures in order to gain a better understanding of others. This way we will learn why people look, act, speak or dress a certain way, and such understanding will ultimately make all people feel comfortable and accepted. I am sure we can all agree that there is no better feeling than to be comfortable in our own skin and be accepted for who we are as human beings.

Erin Marie Muschette'10

Member At Large, ALANA Network

LE PROVOCATEUR: MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS ARTICLE #4

"When speaking on the topic of racism one usually refers to the negative relationships among Whites, Latinos and Blacks. However, I witnessed a different type of racism growing up; this racism was between Latinos and Blacks. The battle between these two races has led to violence, a lack of communication and ultimately, a social divide.

Unity is an important aspect of society because it symbolizes progression. However, progression is the direct opposite of the current situation between Blacks and Latinos in many places. The ideal situation would be that Latinos and Blacks unite because both groups have a shared experience of oppression and exploitation. Latinos went through struggles caused by the early Europeans whom discovered the "New World" and set up harsh systems, which have prevented advancement in Latin America. The exploitation that Blacks suffered came at the hands of white Americans whom enslaved them for hundreds of years, and in return, prevented them from participating in various important aspects of society. In contemporary society when supposedly everyone should have learned to live with each other, the tension between Latinos and Blacks still exists heavily. One of the reasons why this is the case is because both groups of people tend to live in close proximity with one another in urban low income areas.

This racial divide has caused negativity between both racial groups in neighborhoods such as my hometown, Boston. I remember as early as middle school there would be fights after school, and it would always be a group of Blacks against a group of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. It did not stop there, both within and outside school there were always many stereotypes going around, a lot of which was name-calling. Many Latinos were referred to as "Spics," while Blacks were referred to as "Cocolos" and "Morenos." Latinos tend to assume that if a Black person is in a heavily-populated Latino neighborhood, that they are trying to steal something or start problems and vice-versa. In Boston, specifically my neighborhood of Jamaica Plain there is an obvious racial divide. There is an area called Jamaica Pond, which is one of the nicest places you could live in. Then there are areas like Egleston Square, Heath Street, Mozart and Boylston that are low to middle income areas. In these areas there are sectors heavily populated by Latinos, and others sectors heavily populated by Blacks. Some of the problems would take place when there would be parties thrown in the neighborhood. You will never see a Latino go into a "black party" just out of fear because he would be the only Latino there. In this case, it is evident that being different is not always accepted. Latinos and Blacks are not always accepting of each other, and most of the time it is because they put no effort into doing so.

I find it strange that Latinos and Blacks can live in the same neighborhood, but will not work together because of their cultural differences. Perhaps a reason for Latinos not being so accepting of Blacks is because in most Latin American countries, people with darker skin are usually looked down upon, and it is the lighter-skinned people who tend to have the most control over the country. However, there are cases when a Latino could pass as Black, but the shared language and culture distinguishes them from Blacks. Language barriers are also a big issue between Latinos and Blacks with regard to communication. There are countless arguments between Latinos and Blacks which end up with comments like "go learn some English" or "I do not understand what you are saying." Although these are universal comments, in my neighborhood it is very common to hear such an argument between Latinos and Blacks.

When it comes to differences in languages, negative comments can be heard from Latinos towards Blacks as well because Spanish is not the only language spoken in Boston, especially by people considered "Black" in the eyes of Latinos. The other languages spoken in Boston include Haitian Creole and Cape Verdean Creole. Many times problems will start because of miscommunication, and I have witnessed this first hand. When I was younger I remember going to the Registry of Motor Vehicles with my mother, and witnessing the impatience and rudeness of a Black woman who worked in the RMV towards a Latina. This happened during the years when my mother was still learning to speak English and would have some trouble explaining her situation, but would eventually get her point across. When it was my mother's turn to be attended to after a long wait, my mother was only able to get three sentences out before the lady said, "You're going to have to come by another time because I don't know what you're saying, and I don't have time to sit here and try to attend to your issue." This was one of those disrespectful moments I will never forget even though I was too young to get involved and defend my mother.

Despite the racial divide between Blacks and Latinos, there are still signs of unity today. The most recent sign was during the 2008 presidential elections when Barack Obama won the presidential election. During the election period, we all could sense the unity amongst various racial minority groups in support of Barack Obama's campaign. In a way, Obama being president alone has united people who have traditionally been divided because they have a shared experience of electing him into office. Furthermore, unity is the key to progress and in order to see unity in the future between Blacks and Latinos, both racial groups must learn to live with each other and get accustomed to each other's culture because there are many things both of these rich cultures can learn from one another."

Sergio Roque '11

Treasurer, ALANA Network